The effect of lignin-derived lignophenols on lipid metabolism in the livers of rats fed a high-fat diet was investigated. Rats fed a diet providing 45% of energy from fat were divided into 2 groups, namely 0% and 0.5% lignophenols-containing diets. The controls were fed a diet providing 10% of energy from fat. Plasma blood parameters, protein expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1, and SREBP-1c mRNA expression in the livers were examined. The plasma triglyceride levels in the rats fed lignophenols-containing diets were decreased. SREBP-1c mRNA expression in the rats fed lignophenols-containing diets was significantly reduced compared with the rats fed high-fat diets, and phosphorylated ACC protein in the rats fed lignophenols-containing diets was significantly increased. Our results suggested that lignophenols suppress the expression of SREBP-1c mRNA and the phosphorylation of ACC in the liver, and may lead to a decrease in plasma triglyceride levels. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.